According to Teilhard de Chardin, life advances toward greater complexity. The word Genesis denotes things growing and becoming, challenging the idea that things are static, unchanging and relying solely on the templates of the past. And the word symbiotic suggests mutuality, partnership, relationship, indicating that real growth is only possible when a variety of factors come together and humans adapt strategies based more on cooperation rather than competition (remembering that we live in a fiercely competitive world). The word symbiogenesis was popularized by the late Lynn Margullis, renowned microbiologist, based on her lifelong study of bacteria in which she claims that bacteria thrive on cooperation, not competition, contrary to the Darwinian notion of the survival of the fittest. Since bacteria are basic elements of all organic life, then by implication, all life - even at a biological level - is programmed for mutuality and cooperation, not for an adversarial, conflictual mode of engagement. This retreat/workshop will explore the challenges of new ways of engaging and relating for the Church and world of our time.